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Sunday, October 2, 2011

Gutted Gator: ‘Bama Dismantles Florida

Alabama running back Trent Richardson rushed for a career-high 181 yards and two touchdowns, while the Florida faithful…rushed for the exits.

Courtesy of an unstoppable ground attack and a potent defense, the Alabama Crimson Tide rolled the Florida Gators by a score of 38-10 Saturday night in Gainesville.

The Crimson Tide, 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the SEC, once again destroyed a “quality team” on a national stage.

Quick Strike…Early Fizzle

The Florida Gators began the contest in dramatic fashion as quarterback John Brantley connected with Andre Debose on a 65-yard touchdown strike on the first play from scrimmage.

The predominant Florida crowd of 90,888, the second-largest crowd in the history of Florida Field, watched the Gators take an early 7-0 lead over the Crimson Tide.

However, once the emotion wore off and the final score was in the books, the first play of the game would turn out to be the only play of major significance for the Gators.

In “boom and bust” fashion, one could argue that Florida was only good enough for one play against the solid Alabama defense.

Demps/Rainey Non-Factors

Florida couldn’t run the football…and Alabama could. In what was considered one of the biggest keys to the game, the Gators didn’t have the correct key to open the lock.

The high-powered Florida offense entered the game averaging 259 yards rushing per contest, however, the Gators were only able to amass a total of 15 yards against Alabama.

Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey, who many said Alabama wouldn’t be able to contain, only garnered a grand total of eight yards against arguably the fastest and toughest defense in the nation.

Driskel Relieves Injured Brantley

Florida was unable to run the football and stop the Alabama run, however, the injury to John Brantley served as the “beginning of the end” for the UF offense.

Alabama linebacker Courtney Upshaw, who intercepted a Brantley pass and returned it for a touchdown earlier in the game, knocked the Florida quarterback out of the contest with a sack late in the second quarter. Brantley suffered a leg injury on the play and was replaced by freshman Jeff Driskel.

Brantley was 11-of-16 for 190 yards including one touchdown and the aforementioned interception before having to exit due to injury.

Toothless Gators

The Alabama Crimson Tide have now defeated the Florida Gators three years in a row by a combined score of 101-29.